News & Events
Think about this for a moment: For over 105 years, credit unions have powered a simple yet transformative idea – that people could attain the American Dream, and achieve a better standard of living, by working together. This idea of collective energy, of pooling savings and creating loans for each other, has become a unifying force for people and communities looking for an alternative to profit-driven financial institutions.
What began as a small series of co-operatives in Germany, “based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity,” has grown to become an international force with over 56,000 credit unions and 200 million members around the globe.
Since 1948, the shared vision of the credit union movement has been recognized each October with International Credit Union (ICU) Day – a time to raise awareness of and celebrate the credit union movement’s success and future ambitions.
This year’s theme, Local Service. Global Reach., exemplifies the “people helping people” model that drives the credit union community. As stated by the Credit Union National Association, credit unions “empower people, wherever they are in the world or life, to take control of their financial future.” This dedication to helping all people through community support is what has enabled credit unions to grow and thrive for more than a century.
Credit Union Leasing of America (CULA) has been supporting the growth and advancement of credit unions since our founding in 1988. Our understanding of the credit union financial model has resulted in long-term business relationships with innovative credit unions that have realized the value we offer through indirect vehicle leasing. From clients we’ve had for decades, like MidWest America Federal Credit Union and Telhio Credit Union, to our newer partners like Alliant Credit Union and Bethpage Federal Credit Union, CULA is proud to support local communities by helping their credit unions prosper.
What began in the spirit of community and shared success continues to keep its promise to members across the country and around the world. Happy International Credit Union Day!
